Stephen Strasburg one season, Bryce Harper the next. That was the anticipation when the Washington Nationals secured the No. 1 pick this June for the second straight year. After all, Harper is portrayed as the “Next Great Thing” — he was even featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated last year.
But it may be time to re-evaluate the expectation he’ll go No. 1 overall. ESPN baseball columnist Buster Olney wrote that scouts are saying Harper, a catcher, is not a lock to go No. 1, partly because his swing is more violent than they would like. And he struck out 17 times in his first 71 at-bats for Southern Nevada, a junior college. That’s not good, even if his .408 batting average is.
Stay informed.Stay ahead.
Join Washington Examiner for unlimited access to the news, analysis, and commentary that matter most.
Already a member? Log in
However, one thing must be noted: He’s only 17 years old. And his talent level is still unbelievably high. We’re not ready to ditch him at No. 1.
